Civil discovery.

Plain English Breakdown

Official source material does not specify whether verification requirements are removed or remain unchanged.

Civil Discovery Rules

SB-66 removes a scheduled end date for certain rules about how people must share information in civil court cases.

What This Bill Does

• Removes the January 1, 2027 deadline to stop specific discovery rules.
• Keeps current requirements that parties share relevant persons and records within 60 days of a demand.
• Requires disclosure of insurance policies or contracts that could make someone responsible for paying damages.

Who It Names or Affects

• People involved in civil court cases
• Lawyers representing parties in civil actions

Terms To Know

Civil action

A legal case between individuals or organizations, not involving criminal charges.

Initial disclosures

Information and documents that must be shared by each party in a civil case within 60 days of being asked to do so.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify new rules for actions after January 1, 2027.
• The exact impact on court procedures is unclear without further guidance from the courts.

Official Summary Text

SB 66, Umberg.
Civil discovery.
Existing law, the Civil Discovery Act, requires each party that has appeared in a civil action, except specified actions, to provide certain initial disclosures to the other parties to the action within 60 days of a demand by any party to the action unless modified by the stipulation of the parties. Existing law requires a party making initial disclosures of persons or records to additionally disclose persons or records that are relevant to the subject matter of the action, except as specified, and to disclose information and records regarding insurance policies or contracts that would make a person or insurance company liable to satisfy a judgment. Existing law requires initial disclosures to be verified via the written declaration of the party or the party’s authorized representative, or signed by the party’s counsel. Existing law repeals these provisions on January 1, 2027, and replaces
them with prior law requiring initial disclosures to be made upon order of the court following the stipulation of the parties.
This bill would remove the January 1, 2027 repeal date, thereby indefinitely extending the operation of the provisions described above.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF